Ram for fork lift trucks



Aug. 5, 1958 J. J. CONNOR RAM FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS Filed June 20, 1956 Y N a. W

United States Patent RAM FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS James J. Connor, Millville, N. J. Application June 20, 1956, Serial No. 592,648

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-750) This invention relates to a ram that is adapted to be used with a fork lift truck.

An object of this invention is to provide a ram attachment for a fork lift truck whereby using the power of the truck, heavy objects may be pushed into place or moved about a given area.

The ram embodying the present invention is a great time saver, accomplishing the work of several men where it is desired to push heavy objects over a flat surface rather than load them on a fork truck.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view :of a fork lift truck having a ram embodying the invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an elevational plan view of the ram per se;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ram; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a hook or coupling for the ram.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral is generally used to designate a fork truck of conventional design.

The fork truck 10 is provided with a conventional fork lift 11 that, through hydraulic means, not shown, is caused to be raised and lowered on a pair of uprights 12.

Extending forwardly of the lift 11 is a pair of forks 13 which are associated with a ram 14 embodying the invention, as will be later described.

The ram 14 comprises a tubular body 15 having a fork receiving frame 16 secured to one end thereof.

The frame 16 comprises a pair of spaced parallel top members 17 and 18 that are connected at their opposite ends by transversely extended cross members 19 and 20.

The members 17 and 18 are connected by fastening means 21 to the innermost end of the body 15.

A pair of bottom members 22 and 23 are connected at their opposite ends by transversely extending cross members 24 and 25, respectively, and the members are secured to the members 24 by spacing blocks 26, while the member 19 is secured to the member 25 by spacing blocks 27.

Diagonally disposed brace bars 28 and 29 are secured at one of their outer ends to the body 15 and at their opposite inner ends to the blocks 26 and 27, respectively.

A second tubular member 30 is adapted to be telescopically received into the body 15 and equally spaced Patented Aug. 5, 1958 openings 31 in the member 30 and body 15 will receive, when alined, an adjusting pin 32 to retain the member 30 and body 15 in fixed adjusted relation to each other.

Fixed to the outer end of the member 30 is a push frame assembly 33 which comprises a box frame 34, a cross member 35 and four radially disposed connecting members 36 which connect the frame 34 to the member 30. A pair of swivelling casters 37 is connected to the frame 34 at the opposite lower corners thereof.

In use, the forks 13 of the fork lift truck 10 are inserted into the frame 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

To prevent tipping of the body 15 and member 30, a cable 38 having a turnbuckle 39 interpolated therein is connected at one end to an eye 40 fastened to the'outer end of the body 15.

The opposite end of the cable 38 is connected to a cleat 41 on a U-shaped coupling or hook 42.

The hook 42 is removably mounted on the upper edge of the fork lift 11, as in Fig. 1 and the front of the ram is thereby prevented from sagging.

By vertically adjusting the fork lift 11, the ram may be raised or lowered as desired and when the frame 34 is lowered sufiicientlyfor the casters 37 to engage the ground, the ram may be moved from place to place as desired and may push heavy objects as desired.

The ram can be made of light material for light work or heavy material for heavy work. It can be made of a size to fit any available fork lift truck.

The ram is used to push heavy objects over a level surface and it is believed that the operation and construction of the ram will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is also to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

The combination of a fork lift truck and a ram having a fork receiving frame and a push frame, a pair of telescoping members interconnecting said frames in adjusted relation to each other, and means supporting the outer end portion of said telescoping members, said means comprising a cable aflixed at one end to one of said telescoping members, a turnbuckle interpolated in said cable, and a hook attached to the other end of said cable and removably connected to the upper portion of said truck, said hook comprising an elongated transversely extending inverted U-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,626,555 Remde Apr. 26, 1927 2,065,107 Turner et al Dec. 22, 1936 2,477,167 Bliss July 26, 1949 2,493,750 Bucksath Jan. 10, 1950 2,676,723 Schroeder Apr. 27, 1954 2,684,164 Violette July 20, 1954 2,714,463 Fraser Aug. 2, 1955 2,773,615 Conway Dec. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 920,356 Germany Nov. 18, 1954 

